UNITED NATIONS -LRB- CNN -RRB- -- The U.N. Security Council voted unanimously Friday to expand and tighten sanctions on North Korea after that nation 's recent nuclear test .

The U.N. Security Council votes for a resolution imposing sanctions against North Korea on Friday .

The 15-0 vote on U.N. Resolution 1874 imposes an embargo on the shipment of arms from the communist regime and broadens a ban on the import of weapons .

`` This resolution provides a strong and united international response to North Korea 's test of a nuclear device , '' said U.S. Deputy Ambassador Rosemary DiCarlo .

The agreement comes amid rising tension surrounding North Korea , which recently conducted a nuclear test , fired test rockets and threatened U.S. and South Korean ships near its territorial waters . The nuclear test and the firing of six short-range rockets occurred in late May .

Pyongyang 's actions violated existing U.N. resolutions .

The Security Council 's five permanent members had already passed a draft resolution Wednesday that condemned North Korea 's nuclear test `` in the strongest terms . '' The permanent members -- China , France , Russia , Britain and the United States -- reached the agreement in consultation with Japan and South Korea .

The draft resolution reaffirmed that the `` proliferation of nuclear , chemical and biological weapons , as well as their means of delivery , constitutes a threat to international peace and security . ''

That resolution provided a `` strong , very credible , very appropriate response to the provocative nuclear test that North Korea launched and its subsequent activities , '' Susan E. Rice , U.S. ambassador to the United Nations , told reporters at the time .

`` And we think that the message that the council will send ... is that North Korea 's behavior is unacceptable , they must pay a price , they ought to return without conditions to a process of negotiations and that the consequences they will face are significant , '' Rice said .

Provisions already existing in U.N. Resolution 1718 , passed in 2006 , are strengthened by the new measure , but others are new , Rice said .

The new resolution requires states to `` exercise vigilance '' over the direct or indirect supply , sale or transfer to North Korea of small arms or light weapons .

Nations would be required to notify the sanctions committee at least five days prior to selling , supplying or transferring small arms or light weapons to North Korea .

The resolution calls on all states to inspect vessels suspected of containing contraband . If a ship refuses , it is to proceed to the closest port for a mandatory inspection .

A new regulation would prohibit nations from providing bunkering services , such as fuel , to North Korean ships believed to be carrying contraband . The draft also broadens authority to prevent the flow of funds that could benefit North Korea 's missile , nuclear or proliferation activities .

Late last month , two Defense Department officials said U.S. satellite imagery spotted `` vehicle activity '' at a North Korean ballistic missile facility . The officials said the images showed vehicles used to transport Taepodong-2 missiles , but no missile parts . The Taepodong-2 is a long-range missile North Korea tested in April .

That test showed a significant improvement in range from North Korea 's initial long-range missile test in 2006 .

This week , a U.S. official who was not authorized to speak on the record told CNN that Washington had `` indications '' that North Korea may be planning another test . The official would not provide any details , however .

President Obama 's special envoy to North Korea , Stephen Bosworth , called `` simply groundless '' accusations by Pyongyang that its nuclear and rocket tests were in response to American aggression .

Washington officials have said the United States ' goal is for North Korea to return to nuclear negotiations with the United States , China , South Korea , Japan and Russia , known as the six-party talks .

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U.N. Resolution 1874 imposes arms embargo , broadens weapons import ban

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N. Korea recently did nuclear test , fired rockets , threatened ships near its waters

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Resolution requires arms sales notifications , inspection of suspect vessels

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Pyongyang 's actions violated existing U.N. resolutions